Having just finished two days of marker training and practise marking, here are my observations about the extended response question and stimulus items accompanying it.
In particular you’ll learn about:
– Dissecting the Q: what students should focus on most.
AND
– The top two mistakes a lot of students will make in their responses.
AND
how to deal with both of those in ANY subject!
Here are a couple of issues I’m seeing RIGHT NOW in student responses
while in the midst of marking Y12 external ATAR exams,
Do any of these sound familiar?
If so, and you want more than just the awareness that I aim to give in this video,
and get the actual insider-info, techniques and strategies to overcome them…
(awareness the important first step; to realise what’s happening and why – but it’ll take more than a blog video to give you all the solutions!)
then you HAVE to come join me in my 5 Day Inner Circle for Parents of Hard-Working Teens.
We kick off Day 1 tomorrow!
Here’s how I know if a student will give a CLEAR, high quality answer
BEFORE they even write it.
(As you can probably guess from me by now, it’s got nothing to do with their subject knowledge).
I just need to find out if they’re CLEAR on what the command word means and what it requires.
And to do that, I just need to ask them one thing about the question they’re about to answer (presuming they already know about command words, what they are and can identify them)…
“What is that command asking you to do?”
If they can answer that question confidently, clearly and succinctly, then they’re on track for a high quality answer (and completing it without unnecessary struggle).
If not, then we’re likely on the road to waffle and vague-ness.
The beauty of your teen mastering the 6 elements of exam technique
is that these skills are essential for ALL aspects of their study.
Not just exams.
So, if your teen hasn’t had exams,
they CAN still practice, refine and hone their exam technique.
In fact, they absolutely should be doing that every single day of their study, by:
If your teen’s studying from home during lockdown right now,
or might be at some point between now and Christmas
(which is a possibility for all of us)
or you just want to help them become more independent and effective in their study
(which is all of us?!)
I’m making available again, for a limited time,
my 7-Step Checklist for Parents of ATAR Teens.
I created it last year as the whole country (and most of the world)
went to online learning / alternative learning / learning from home…
(whatever your school is calling it!)
in order to give parents of teens some practical strategies to support their children.
Strategies that go beyond
‘have a quiet study space’
or
‘try to keep the same daily timings’.
(Which are perfectly valid, but not really going beyond common sense.)
And strategies that are immediately actionable and will make an instant difference.
As opposed to doing 10mins of extra reading about topical issues each day – which actually isn’t going to make any difference to their study strategy or results
(I’m happy to expand on this point if requested!)
and even if it did, it would take a loooooonnnng time to see it pay off.
You can download all seven in one go at:
https://www.gradetransformation.com/7steps
and please feel free to go ahead and share this blog post/that link with any friends and family or on your social media.
Some stress is good.
In fact, it’s helpful.
It keeps us focused, energised and alert.
I’m often telling students this.
Because the word ‘stress’ (understandably) has a heap of negative connotations.
And a lot of my training is indeed centred around reducing students’ stress.
But there are times (like having to write an essay in exam conditions!) that it’s natural to feel some stress.
The key is understanding when everything is going to plan and we’re just under pressure
(time pressure of the exam and the pressure to perform well – the latter of which is even greater when it’s a seen essay Q that you’ve prepped for!)
VS.
Stress because we don’t know what we’re doing.
The first type can be beneficial.
The second… well, that can be fixed 😉
Is it really possible to make big changes to your teen’s results and confidence
(and do it FAST)
with just a few skills, techniques and tweaks to how they study and tackle exam questions?
This analogy is a great example of what’s possible when current efforts and progress are optimised with some expert tips and specific tweaks.
Some students love the online style of learning during lockdowns.
Others hate it.
Either way, it certainly highlights students’ strengths and weaknesses when it comes to studying strategically and independently.
Whether your teen’s learning online or in the classroom right now,
the conversation I had this week with Sam Richardson from Hope FM in Sydney
will give you answers to Qs like:
– How can students avoid burnout?
– What can parents do if they have a teen who’s a bit of a (or master!) procrastinator?
– What’s the key to studying ‘smarter not harder’?
(Spoiler alert – I start my answer with the reason why I personally hate using that phrase!)
– For parents with students who put a lot of pressure on themselves, what can they say or do to help?
And more!
Let’s talk essays for a moment, shall we?
We often think of them as long drawn out tasks, slaved over for days (sometimes weeks).
Cue all the false starts,
finding quotes,
writing drafts,
trying not to waffle,
including stuff we know they didn’t ask for just because it sounds good,
(missing stuff they DID ask for, but not realising it),
wondering whether a snack would help ;),
realising you’re way over the word count and trying to figure out what to cut without losing marks,
OR realising you’re way under the word count and wondering what on earth you could add without waffling or repeating yourself,
handing in a draft,
being told you’ve missed the point somewhere or need to ‘add more detail’,
eating all the snacks,
hours of editing (or total re-writing),
finally handing in with fingers crossed and a whole lot of hope that it comes back with a good mark.
(FYI – ‘hope’ is not a proven strategy) ?
But of course, essays come up in exams too.
With a whole lotta marks allocated.
And very little time to do ’em in!
In the video I explain the critical step
(and IS a proven strategy that works in EVERY subject, for EVERY type of essay question)
your teen needs to do before they write ANYTHING:
And as a thank you gift during this runway to my next 10WGT enrolment, right now you can get my
Essay Title Swipe File with my 2-step Topic and Focus system
(+ bonus explanatory video!)
for your teen for free!
Here’s how:
1) Share the invite to the webinar:
Skyrocket YOUR Teen’s Exam Results and Confidence
on your Facebook page:
www.gradetransformation.com/webinar
2) Take a screenshot of your share.
3) Email your screenshot to:
support@rocksolidstudy.com
I’ll email you the swipe file AND the video within 12 hours!
Your teen wants to practise for an exam, but…
They’ve exhausted the revision questions given by their teacher.
The online and text book questions are okay for learning, but not quite the same as exams.
They’re not in Y12 so can’t really use the exam board past papers.
Or maybe they are in Y12, but their syllabus changed so they don’t have many past years to work from.
So, where can they find a treasure trove of untapped test papers and exam style questions?
Here are a few places to go* to find them for your teen’s specific subjects and year group.
* I’ve put in some direct weblinks in the P.S.
P.S. Here are a few direct links to get you going… but please watch the video to find out which ones are relevant to YOUR teen and where they’re at in their study.
School Certificate Past Papers : Humanities
GCSE exams (foundation and higher tier)
ATAR exams – see each state exam board (10WGT and Next Level Coaching members have direct links to all these with past papers, mark schemes and Chief Examiner reports in the Study Vault)
A’Level exams (AS = Y11, A2 = Y12 equivalent)
P.P.S. BONUS! Not mentioned in the video:
IB Past Papers
